Police commands in Bauchi and Ogun states have arrested two suspects in separate operations involving an alleged kidnapping attempt and a N2.5 million spiritual deliverance fraud.

In Bauchi, operatives of the Kirfi Divisional Police Headquarters arrested a 30-year-old man, Abdulmumini Sarki, over an alleged criminal conspiracy and kidnapping attempt in Kirfi Local Council.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed in a statement that Sarki was arrested at about 9 a.m. on Friday following credible intelligence received by the command.

According to Habib, Sarki, a resident of Ziriyalo hamlet near Tubule village, had been declared wanted in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy and kidnapping in the area.

Police operatives also recovered a motorcycle and an Itel keypad phone containing Glo and MTN SIM cards during the operation.

The motorcycle, with registration number GME 224WW, as well as its engine and chassis numbers, were documented as exhibits for possible prosecution.

The suspect remains in custody, while the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Bauchi, for further investigation.

Meanwhile, in Ogun State, police operatives arrested a suspected fake clergyman, Kehinde Makinde, popularly known as “Pastor Kenny,” for allegedly defrauding 18 fellowship members of about N2.5 million under the guise of organising a government-sponsored pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Makinde was arrested on August 3, 2026, at about 4:45 p.m. in Ibadan, Oyo State, following four months of intelligence gathering and discreet investigation by detectives attached to the Obantoko Division of the Ogun State Police Command.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said preliminary investigation showed that the suspect allegedly collected approximately N2.5 million from 18 fellowship members in Saje, Adatan, Abeokuta, after falsely promising to arrange a government-sponsored pilgrimage to Jerusalem and pay each participant N2 million.

Babaseyi added that the suspect was also being investigated over allegations of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of providing spiritual deliverance services across Ogun, Oyo and Osun states.

He said the suspect remained in police custody as investigators continued efforts to identify other victims and apprehend his alleged accomplices.

The Bauchi Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property in the state, while urging residents to provide credible and timely information that could help security agencies prevent crime.